Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Frederick Francis III
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Reign	15 April 1883 – 10 April 1897
Predecessor	Frederick Francis II
Successor	Frederick Francis IV
Born	19 March 1851 Ludwigslust
Died	10 April 1897 (aged 46) Cannes
Spouse	Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia
Issue	Alexandrine, Queen of Denmark Frederick Francis IV Cecilie, German Crown Princess
House	House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Father	Frederick Francis II
Mother	Princess Augusta of Reuss-Köstritz
Religion	Lutheranism

Friedrich Franz III (19 March 1851 – 10 April 1897) was the penultimate Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Biography

He was born in Schloss Ludwigslust the son of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and his first wife Princess Augusta of Reuss-Köstritz. He succeeded his father as Grand Duke on 15 April 1883.

From an early age Friedrich Franz suffered from asthma and severe breathing difficulties. He could not live in the north of Europe and lived instead on the shores of the Mediterranean, where the mild climate agreed with him. His homosexuality was an open secret.^[1]

Friedrich Franz's death in Cannes on 10 April 1897 is shrouded in mystery, as he was originally reported to have committed suicide by throwing himself off a parapet of a bridge.^[2] According to the official account of his death, however, he was in his garden when he experienced breathing difficulties and staggered around before falling over a low wall.^[3] He was succeeded by his son Friedrich Franz IV, who would be the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Marriage and children

Friedrich Franz married Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia in Saint Petersburg on 24 January 1879. They had three children:

• Duchess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1879–1952); married King Christian X of Denmark; had issue.
• Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg (1882–1945); married Princess Alexandra of Hanover and had issue.
• Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1886–1954); married Wilhelm, German Crown Prince and had issue.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

16. Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin               8. Friedrich Ludwig, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin                       17. Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg               4. Paul Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin                             18. Paul I of Russia               9. Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna of Russia                       19. Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg               2. Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin                                   20. Frederick William II of Prussia               10. Frederick William III of Prussia                       21. Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt               5. Princess Alexandrine of Prussia                             22. Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz               11. Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz                       23. Friederike Caroline Luise of Hesse-Darmstadt               1. Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin                                         24. Count Heinrich IX Reuss of Köstritz               12. Prince Heinrich XLIV Reuss of Köstritz                       25. Countess Amalie Esperance of Wartensleben-Flodroff               6. Prince Heinrich LXIII Reuss of Köstritz                             26. Baron Friedrich Christian of Geuder genannt Rabensteiner               13. Baroness Wilhelmine of Geuder genannt Rabensteiner                       27. Johanna Wilhelmine von Bredow               3. Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz                                   28. Count Christian Friedrich of Stolberg-Wernigerode               14. Count Heinrich of Stolberg-Wernigerode                       29. Countess Auguste Eleonore of Stolberg-Stolberg               7. Countess Eleonore of Stolberg-Wernigerode                             30. Prince Otto Karl Friedrich of Schonburg               15. Princess Jenny of Schonburg-Waldenburg                       31. Countess Henriette Eleonore Elisabeth Reuss of Köstritz

Literature

• Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller, Mann für Mann, pages 253
• Hans von Tresckow, Von Fürsten und anderen Sterblichen, Erinnerungen eines Kriminalkommisars, 1922, Berlin, page 89

References

1. Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller, Mann für Mann, pages 253
2. "The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Shown to Have Committed Suicide" (PDF). New York Times. 1897-04-13. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
3. "The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin Did Not Commit Suicide" (PDF). New York Times. 1897-04-15. Retrieved 2007-10-23.

External links

Media related to Friedrich Franz III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin at Wikimedia Commons